Form analyst Tom Hackett takes a look at the Eagle Farm meeting

Ladbrokes form analyst Tom Hackett has nailed down his top picks for the meeting at Eagle Farm. Plus, check out which horses punters have loaded up on in the market watch.

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Ladbrokes form analyst Tom Hackett looks at the Eagle Farm card as he homes in on a few promising types.

EAGLE FARM

Track: Good (4). Rail: 8m out. Weather: Mostly sunny, 31C.

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TOM’S BEST BETS

Shalwa (Race 2) @ $2

Ditmas (Race 5) @ $7.50

The Kingdom (Race 7) @ $3.50

Baroda (Race 9) @ $3.50

BEST VALUE

Akage (Race 6) @ $11

Fortensky (Race 8) @ $7

LADBROKES MARKET WATCH

BEST BACKED

The Kingdom (Race 7) $4.60-$3.50

OTHERS

Trevelyan (Race 3) $2.25-$1.70

Manaya (Race 8) $4.60-$3.50

BOOKIES BEST BET

Ingear (Race 9)

LAY OF THE DAY

Impasse (Race 6)

RACE 4: OSIM HCP (1840m)

Open Hcp, 2.23pm

TOM SAYS: New Universe ran the fastest closing sectionals in the race at Eagle Farm last start and this is a very similar field. On his best form, he is the class horse in this field. Cool Chap was finally able to return to winning form last start and should be in the mix once again. Le Juge didn’t have a great deal of luck in the same contest and he has won over this track and distance in the past. Our Mantra brings a different form line into the race after finding the line nicely, despite having a tricky run in transit, at Eagle Farm last start.

BOOKIES SAY: This has been a very quiet betting race early, with a sprinkle of money for New Universe. He goes up to 1840m, his first go at 1600m or further in a 43-start career, and this alone must be a query. Le Juge was just on the heels of the placegetters last time out and is a winner this track and distance. He looks good value at the current price of $7.

THE PLAY: Happy to back NEW UNIVERSE at the current price.

New Universe has a class edge on his rivals. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 5: PADDYFEST 14/3 HCP (1000m)

BENCHMARK 75, 3.02pm

TOM SAYS: Ditmas is outstanding value at his current quote of $7.50. The six-year-old has recorded three wins from as many first-up starts and his barrier trial before his return to the races was excellent. Gypsy Toff is another horse that flies fresh and her record over 1000m is excellent. She also represents value at $8.50. Let’s Cheer Again has recorded three wins on the trot in impressive fashion and it will be interesting to see how the Hallowed Crown colt handles the step-up in class. Desert Man looks like something of a false favourite and I am personally happy to oppose at the current price.

BOOKIES SAY: Desert Man was flying last time in and returns here off a bleeding ban. Pizonie looks hard to beat after being narrowly beaten by the impressive Emerald Kingdom last start. This form was franked by Emerald Kingdom on Thursday, who scored a runaway victory.

THE PLAY: Keen to back both DITMAS and GYPSY TOFF at their current prices.

RACE 6: QLD CHINESE JOCKEY CLUB HCP (1400M)

BENCHMARK 85, 3.42pm

TOM SAYS: Akage made a winning return to the races at Eagle Farm last start and there was plenty of merit in the performance. She maps to get a lovely run in transit and can win again at juicy odds. Impasse is the obvious danger. It has been a while between race wins, but he is the class galloper in this field. Red Doulton has been very consistent this campaign and she will be in the mix again. The Tax Accountant comes through the same form line and should get every possible chance in the run from barrier six.

BOOKIES SAY: The Tax Accountant was well supported in a similar race last time out. He got caught in what looked like the wrong part of the track and we think the current $6.50 quote represents good each-way value.

THE PLAY: AKAGE is a great each-way bet at the current price.

Akage can win again at juicy odds. Picture: Jason O'Brien

RACE 7: TAB HCP (1600m)

BENCHMARK 70, 4.22pm

TOM SAYS: It is no surprise that there has been strong betting support for The Kingdom. He has always had plenty of ability and he lived up to his potential when he ran the fastest closing sectionals of the day at Eagle Farm last start. Slow Hands scored a classy win at Doomben last start and this race isn’t that much tougher. Downloading does seem better suited at Doomben, but he is capable of a high-rating performance on his day. Alderman has recorded two wins on the trot over a mile and makes his own luck right on the speed.

BOOKIES SAY: One-way traffic early here for The Kingdom. We are siding with the early punters here and think The Kingdom is a progressive type who can get the job done again.

THE PLAY: Happy to be with THE KINGDOM.

RACE 8: QLD CHINESE JOCKEY CLUB HCP (1200m)

OPEN HANDICAP, 5.02pm

TOM SAYS: Fortensky is well-placed to make a winning return to the races. He always runs well fresh and he maps to get the run of the race just behind the speed with Matthew McGillivray in the saddle. The $7 on offer is well over the odds. Freddie Fox Trot is better than his recent form suggests. His best form would have him right in the mix. Femme Fireball found the line nicely at Eagle Farm last start and the Pierro mare should take good improvement from that performance. Cruze always runs well at this venue and can’t be ruled out in a fairly open race.

BOOKIES SAY: The early money for the Michael Costa-trained Manaya suggests she is ready to win first-up. The most interesting runner in this race is Cruze. He was heavily backed over 1600m when having to cart the field up in a fast run race. He is from a very astute stable and any market move on race day should be respected

THE PLAY: Happy to have FORTENSKY on top.

Fortensky should get the run of the race and be hard to beat. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 9: GIRLS DAY OUT 22/2 HCP (1400m)

3YO, 5.40pm

TOM SAYS: Baroda has improved each time she has been seen at the races and she goes into this contest on the back of two classy wins. There is no reason that the Epaulette filly can’t make it three wins on the trot. Ingear chased Baroda home at Doomben last start and didn’t have a great deal of luck in running. Red Bloom comes out of the same race and she should improve second-up. Take Tea does have tactical versatility and it wouldn’t surprise to see her take up a forward position in the early stages of the race.

BOOKIES SAY: The early shoppers have been active here and there has been good early money for several runners. We think Ingear is the one to beat. The stable/jockey combination of Tony Gollan and Baylee Nothdurft are in form and she should relish getting to 1400m at Eagle Farm.

THE PLAY: BARODA is one of the best bets of the day.

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

“He’s an up-and-coming type who is getting better with age. We rushed him too much last winter trying to get him into the Queensland Derby and ran out of time. That’s why he lost form for a while, so I’m taking my time with him now. It was a terrific win last start and he’ll go well but he’ll be a lot better over a middle distance.”

— Les Kelly, The Kingdom (Race 7).

“He is going very well and in fact it is the best he has been with me since coming from the south. His trials have been extra good and in his latest he beat some of his main rivals on Saturday.”

— Matt Dunn, Sovereign Nation (Race 8).

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“I know it isn’t ideal going from 1600 back to 1200m but this race suits his program best. He will race well on Saturday with one proviso and that is there is plenty of early pace. If there is he will be finishing over the top of them, but if there is no pace he will be in trouble.”

— Barry Lockwood, Cruze (Race 8)

“I wanted to give him time to mature into his body and he has pleased me since he came back into work. He has had a jumpout and then a solid 1200m trial, so he is ready for 1400m first-up. We will get a clearer idea of where we are going after Saturday but a race like the Queensland Guineas or something even a bit further could be on the agenda.”

— Stuart Kendrick, Star Of Michelin (Race 9).

“She got too far back that day and then was caught wide, so hopefully she’ll get more luck in this. I think she’ll run 1600m and she’ll have to prove she’s up to the winter races like the Queensland Guineas.”

— Les Kelly, Take Tea (Race 9).